Pads and Books

On a luminous and gleaming evening, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the Dwona Initiative team embarked on an exhilarating journey to welcome a new partner school into the fold of the RUMPs for Rural Girls’ program. This remarkable institution stood as a trailblazer, distinguished by the addition of a new team member proficient in sign interpretation, a milestone that echoed the team’s enthusiasm. The radiant spirits of the team resonated with the children, mirroring their own excitement.

At the stroke of 2 pm, the Dwona team arrived at the Mulago School of the Deaf, nestled in the heart of Mulago, Kampala. Beneath a shed, the children sat adorned with beaming smiles. In a heartwarming display, many rushed towards the team members, extending warm gestures of welcome. Leading the team was the Ms. Lizza Marie Kawooya. 

The initial rendezvous unfolded with an engagement between the Dwona team and the school administration. A comprehensive introduction to the team was coupled with an elucidation of the School Menstrual Hygiene Management play-based educational model and the underpinning club structure. The teachers, a receptive audience, embraced the prospect of partnering with the program, expressing their commitment to championing menstrual justice and parity within the school and its surrounding community.

Following this administrative discourse, Ms. Lucy, a senior woman, orchestrated the assembly of pupils from primary 3 to primary 7 in the shed within the school’s premises. The Dwona team, led by Prossy, the sign language interpreter, and the Lizza, took center stage. A panorama of menstrual concepts unfurled before the curious minds of the children, who eagerly grasped the definitions of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management. Through expressive artistry, the children vividly illustrated the evolutionary life stages of both genders and the associated internal and physical changes.

The fervor ignited by these interactive activities was such that the children clamored for more. It was at this juncture that Lizza unveiled the Menstrual Hygiene Management Club handbook and its structural framework. With the mantle of partnership bestowed upon the school, Lizza articulated the prospect of engaging in these enriching and entertaining sessions. The response was nothing short of astounding: a multitude of children signaled their eagerness to assume leadership roles within the club. Names flowed onto paper as aspirations were shared, showing the genuine desire to actively participate in the school club's leadership.

Central to the endeavor, a School Menstrual Hygiene Management Club aspires to facilitate access to age-appropriate, comprehensive menstrual education, underscored by playful engagement, safe menstrual products, and safe spaces. The club’s nucleus comprises a leadership cohort of five pupils or students, supplemented by a membership of 20 to 40 peers spanning from primary four to primary seven. The Dwona Initiative envisions leveraging these clubs as safe places, nurturing an ethos of menstrual justice and equity within educational institutions and their adjacent communities, thus ensuring the uninterrupted educational journey of young girls.

In extending heartfelt gratitude to the patrons and advocates of this program, the Dwona Initiative echoes a fervent appeal. A humble request for a contribution of $10 or more is extended, with the noble objective of nurturing an environment where young girls can pursue education free from the burden of inadequate menstrual products. The resonance of gratitude reverberates for the unwavering support offered on this transformative odyssey.

In the ceaseless tapestry of change, the inauguration of this new alliance symbolizes the dawn of empowerment and change, echoing the promise of a brighter future.